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Congress party wins election in India

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-16 14:43

NEW DELHI - India's Congress party on Saturday won an almost overwhelming victory in the general elections, leading by more than 60 seats in beating the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), TV projections said.

Supporters of Congress party celebrate as they hold a portrait of party chief Sonia Gandhi in front of her residence after learning of initial poll results in New Delhi May 16, 2009. [Agencies]

The projections, based on counting of electronic machines of the Election Commission, said the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has won 230 seats out of 525 seats counted so far. The BJP won 160 and Third Force 73. Eighteen seats are still being counted.

Related readings:  India's Congress 'leads vote slightly'  India's monthlong election ends  Millions vote as India ends monthlong elections

The Congress has also won all the seven seats in the capital New Delhi.

The outgoing ruling party will thus continue its rule of the country with Prime Minister Manmohan Single to take a second term, said analysts.

However, the party could still be some 40 seats short of the 272 majority in Lok Sabha, or lower house of parliament. So it needs to gain support from some parties of the Third Force to set up a government.    

Congress spokesman Kapil Sibal claimed victory to local TV channel CNN-IBN, saying that it is absolutely clear that the people of Indian have given the Congress the mandate to lead the nation into the future.

"The Indian people need a stable, honest and straightforward government for the future generation of India," he said.

Some supporters of the Congress have already been celebrating the victory in their camps across the country, as is shown in TV footage.

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